The councils are working together in an innovative partnership.
A £500,000 grant will be available to Richmond and Kingston’s joint children’s service, Achieving for Children, from April 2014.
The main areas which will benefit from the grant are prevention and early help, child protection, social care, education and health.
The grant is part of the government’s Transformation Challenge programme and will help fund ICT development and establish graduate internship programmes across the boroughs.
Richmond Council Leader, Lord Nicholas True, said: “We are delighted about the funding.”
He said the priority for children in the borough at all times is safeguarding.
“This is tremendous news for children across Kingston and Richmond,” he added.
“Our two boroughs are working in a very innovative partnership to secure the very best outcomes for children and young people.”
He said the government supports schemes which involve councils working together as it cuts back costs.
The boroughs are the only ones in London and the UK to have won an award of this kind for their children’s services.
The service could eventually become a social enterprise and expand to help children in other London boroughs, said Lord True.
Liz Green, leader of Kingston Council, said: “We simply want what is best for our young people, children and council taxpayers and we share a commitment to making change happen.”
In child protection, Achieving for Children will deliver a single access point for referral and assessment and develop interventions and support for children needing protection.
The service aims to plan sufficient school places, manage school admissions and provide challenge and support to schools, early years’ providers and governing bodies.
Follow us @SW_Londoner
